Highland Clinical Research Facility

The Highland CRF will be housed on the ground floor within the Highland Diabetes Institute; phase 3 of the Centre for Health Science building.  This facility will be operated by the University of Highlands and Island’s Millennium Institute (UHI) and NHS Highland.  The CRF will be designed and managed to allow researchers to undertake clinical trials and other research studies in a state of the art facility and will also have a bedded unit with the capacity for overnight studies. 

Funding for the CRF is sourced from a number of agencies including UHI, the Chief Scientist Office and Highlands & Islands Enterprise – Inverness and East Highland.

The CRF will provide a high quality clinical environment in which participants can take part in research programmes safely according to ethically approved study protocols.  Any researcher who needs to utilise the facility will be eligible to request access whether he or she works for the University, the NHS or another research organisation.  Researchers using the facility will be supported by trained research nurses and administrative services including a receptionist, clinical measurement technician, research pharmacist and data manger.

A CRF Advisory Group with representation from UHI and NHS Highland including clinicians, R&D department staff and the health board will provide an overview of the operation of the CRF.  Approved studies will be reviewed by a CRF User’s Group and the day to day operational activity will be overseen by a CRF manager to be appointed in advance of the CRF opening.

Facilities

• Reception and waiting area
• Nurses’ hub for use by research nurses and clinical staff while conducting studies in the CRF.
• Large flexible clinical area with room for up to six reclining chairs for clinical studies and epidemiological research.
• A large multi purpose clinical room with space for two storable beds and shower / WC facilities; suitable for day and overnight studies and with the optional capacity for use with physiological equipment etc
• A large individual patient room with fixed bed with access to shower etc and also suitable for day or overnight studies
• Category 2 laboratory with facilities for processing blood samples, 'near patient' physiological/biological measurements and other metabolic research.
• Drug preparation area and controlled-access drug store.
• Large treatment room with plinth
• Two equipment storage cupboards
• Pantry / kitchen with facilities for food preparation

To assist with further development and operation of the facility, a workshop organised by NHS Highland Research Office and UHI was held in the Green House, Beechwood Park on 26^th October.  This formed a platform to describe the facilities and gain insight into local issues; the wider picture of clinical research in Scotland was outlined by invited local and national speakers including Prof Alison MacLeod Research & Development director NHS Grampian and Prof David Newby chair of the Scottish Clinical Research Facilities network.

Highland CRF staff are keen to hear from potential researchers interested in using the CRF for commercial or non commercial studies and any one, wishing further information, should contact: